JANUARY 2017 VISITING TEACHING MESSAGE

This month's Visiting Teaching message centers around the Purpose of the Relief Society.  The Relief Society was organized to help women lift and support each other both temporally and spiritually.

I love that instinctively, the women of the church in Nauvoo gathered together to try to do good.  It's even better, and more inspired that at that point, the Prophet Joseph Smith realized that something had been missing from the Church organization, and that the women needed to be officially organized under the pattern of the priesthood.

The Relief Society--organized under the power of the priesthood--was "something better" than just a club of ladies meeting together, it was a necessary step in the progression of the Church.

Not only was the Relief Society organization "something better", but the sisters who belong to it are, and strive to be "something better".

January seems to be the month where I focus on "something better" for myself and my family.  We set goals and try to realize our hopes and dreams.  Some of our goals are centered on being "something better" for the Lord.

For the message this month, I put together some fun bee-themed objects to go with the print-out of the message.

If you want, you can put together a little basket with your bee things, or if you want to simplify the handout, you can grab some honey and add the message and tag to that.

You can print the message here.

And the Bee Something Better tag here.

Happy Visiting Teaching!

DECEMBER VISITING TEACHING

I loved how the message this month focused on the joy of families, and how family happiness is can be found and elevated by living the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Elder Richard G. Scott said that a Christ-centered home "provides the greatest assurance for peace and refuge in our homes."

The world is a crazy place and I peace and refuge are something that I desperately need.  

I'm so grateful for the comfort that this knowledge brings to me and my family.

For my handout this month, I wanted to give my sisters a gift along with the message, so I found this cute free printable of The Family: A Proclamation to the World and enlarged it to 16x20 at the print shop, and then framed it, and stuck the message to the back.  

Quick and easy, yet meaningful.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and that the coming year is full of peace and happiness.

Happy Visiting Teaching!

MMMONDAY!

You know those recipe videos on Facebook?

The ones that are mesmerizing and flash through all ingredients and steps to a recipe in about 30 seconds?

Well, I saw one the other day from Pillsbury that I decided I needed to try and it was super easy.

All you need is some chocolate chip cookie dough, pecan chips, 12ish caramels, chocolate chips, and sea salt.

First, take the dough and shape into balls, and then roll in pecan chips (or not if you don't like nuts). Bake according to package directions and let them cool for a few minutes.  

Meanwhile, melt your caramels in the microwave with a little milk or cream for about one minute, then take a few chocolate chips and melt them in the microwave.  Indent the center of the cookie and fill with melted caramel.  Then drizzle melted chocolate on top and sprinkle sea salt.  Stick them in the fridge for a few minutes to set and you have a fancy, schmancy super yummy, semi-homemade treat!

Happy mmmonday!

CATCHING UP

Aside from a few Visiting Teaching posts here and there, it has been quite a while since I've blogged. Life got in the way.

So I thought I would take a minute and catch up.  We won't go back too far, but just in this year alone we have taken a few trips, had a few surgeries, our oldest son graduated from high school and left to serve an LDS mission to Spain, and we relocated our family from Lehi, Utah to Rexburg, Idaho in July.

Most of my time since then has included getting the kids settled in their new schools and activities, exploring our new surroundings, dreaming of fun projects for the new house, painting the new house, and unpacking an endless supply of boxes from our old house.

We are exhausted, but we are loving our new adventure and are so excited about life.

My goal is to check in here a little more often.

I miss interacting with you all and can't wait to share some fun new recipes, travel experiences, and projects.  I will continue to do a monthly Visiting Teaching message.  You all know that I believe Visiting Teaching is super important.  VT Messages are not going away.  I also spent the past few years in Young Women and am now serving as the Primary Chorister, so I will be sharing some ideas there.  

Although I am not working as a travel agent anymore, I still love travel and hope to be able to share more travel adventures, and tips and tricks.

My appreciation for good food is never-ending.  I hope you will all continue to join me for mmmonday recipe ideas.

And you all know that I will be decorating, demo-ing, painting, and glue-gunning.  A lot.

For those of you who are still reading, I would love to hear what you would like to see more of.  I would love to see your projects and ideas, and if you blog, I would really like to visit.

Also, thanks for your patience as I update the ol' blog.  I am learning as I go, and eventually all of the links will be up and running again.

Have a great day, and a wonderful weekend!

VISITING TEACHING MESSAGE-NOVEMBER 2016

Hello!

Last month was our annual LDS General Conference, which means that it is time for another batch of Conference Preserves!

Conference Preserves help us to remember the wonderful Spirit that we felt as we listened to General Conference and help us to share those moments with those who may not have been able to watch or listen.  If you would like to read or listen to messages from General Conference, click here.

To make and share these preserves with your Visiting Teaching sisters this month, you will need 4 sheets of cute printed double-sided cardstock {per sister}, a jar with a lid, and maybe a little treat to add.

Print the Conference quotes, here, here, and here and also the tag for the top, here.

Next, cut along the dotted lines, fold and assemble.

So easy.

Happy Visiting Teaching!

August Visiting Teaching Message

Hello! For those of you still looking for something easy to share with their sisters this month, here's an idea:

To make the handout, you will need 4 sheets of double-sided 12"x12" cute scrapbook paper (2 of each print), 1 or more Kind brand granola bars and some twine or ribbon.

Cut one of the sheets of scrapbook paper down to 10"x10", vertically fold it in half, and cut down the fold of the paper about 2".  Next, cut across so that it looks like this:

Take another sheet of paper and cut a square that is 10"x4".  This will be your bottom pocket.  Staple it to the bottom of the first sheet.

Finally, take your 3rd and 4th pieces of cute scrapbook paper and cut them down to 8.5"x11", and print the message and the tag.

Wrap it up with some twine or ribbon, and stick your granola bars in the pocket and you're all done!

Happy Visiting Teaching!

P.S.  If you don't have time to grab all of those supplies, you could maybe even just print the tag and tie it to the Kind granola bar, and just deliver the message verbally.  Or, just visit or call.  The most important thing is that we are reaching out to each other and looking after one another.

November Visiting Teaching Message: Conference Preserves

This month for Visiting Teaching, we have the opportunity to look back through the talks from General Conference and remember the words of our leaders.  What a wonderful conference it was!

For the Visiting Teaching Message this month, I compiled some of my favorite thoughts and quotes from General Conference to share, and preserved them in canning jars.  The best part about Conference Preserves is that you can enjoy them every day, and they never go stale or expire.

They are best enjoyed immediately—don’t let them sit on the shelf and collect dust!

If you would like to make some Conference Preserves for the sisters you visit,  you will need some fun paper (two sheets per sister), and an extra for the tag (I used white cardstock). 

You can find the quote sheets to print here, and here, and click here for the tag.

Another idea would be that if there was a particular talk that you feel inspired to share with your sisters, you could print that talk and put it in the jar with a treat instead.

I would encourage each of you to study the talks from October’s General Conference.  I know that they are modern-day scripture and that our lives will be better and happier if we read and ponder them.

You can find all of the General Conference talks at lds.org.

Happy Visiting Teaching!